SBC Hardware specifications

[rc179]

The current listed specs are an i3 gen8 CPU, but it seems that speed and number of cores would be more important than it being a gen 8, and not something like a gen3.

The reason I ask is that the Raspberry Pi has become unobtainium and we need a cost effective alternative. We can easily do this with a 3.6Ghz i5 (gen3), but the gen8 pushes this way past it being practical.

I do not want to do anything 3cx wouldn't support, but the gen8 requirement pushes the cost to where we may not have any choice.

Will 3cx still support a system where the SBC has a gen 3 or gen 5 CPU?

I'll note that with all the SBCs we have out there, we've never had an issue with any of them so I doubt I'll need support for the SBC itself, but I wouldn't want to be declined support on any other part of the system just because the SBC is outside spec.

 

[cobaltit]

By the letter of the law, you would maybe be denied support but that's really up to whoever responds to your ticket. Ultimately, it's about resources, both CPU cycles and just what 3CX is willing to test. They aren't going out and buying old equipment off ebay to test. At the time of the document, 8th gen is what was readily available/current and that's what they tested on.

I have SBCs running on Pi 2's, I even bought a bunch of old HP Chromebox I got off Ebay for like $20/each and run SBCs on those and those are like 10 years old.

 

[rc179]

Oh, I'd definitely go with a new direct source of mini computer. A purpose build appliance type of thing. I need consistency and supportability as much as 3cx does.My base Debian install will be an image so consistent hardware is a must.
And I know it's about capabilities, cycles etc. But I can get more than what the Pi has without going Gen8

And 3cx isn't testing all the possible hardware combinations, that would be insane. I'm sure the spec of gen8 was because it was the latest one out at the time and that's the simplest way to go. But that was when there was a low cost alternative available, that's gone for now. Also 3cx doesn't support the hardware of the SBC anyway. So an OS/hardware issue isn't on them anyway, their only concern is their software.

So I'm asking 3cx to step up and help out in these unusual times and reconsider the specs required for the SBC when it comes to getting support. At least don't deny support for a PBX issue that doesn't involve the SBC just because the SBC is below gen8 (but still has the speed and cores required).